Fermanagh/South Tyrone candidate, independent Rodney Connor — who has said he will take the Conservative whip unless it is against the interests of his constituency — is running neck and neck with Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew, on 44% and 43% respectively, the results indicate. Today’s poll also signals that Traditional Unionist Voice leader Jim Allister is eight points behind the DUP’s Ian Paisley jnr in North Antrim — arguably too big a gap to close at this stage of the election. But Mr Allister’s party would appear to be on course for at least five seats in next year’s Assembly elections.

Based on the polling data, he predicted that the DUP’s William McCrea will lose South Antrim to Sir Reg and that independent unionist Rodney Connor will narrowly take Fermanagh/South Tyrone from Sinn Fein’s Michelle Gildernew.

Upper Bann and North Antrim were listed as “too close to call”, being within the poll’s margin of error, although Ian Paisley Jnr was narrowly ahead in North Antrim.

He also predicted that DUP leader Peter Robinson will narrowly retain his East Belfast seat.